Cable stripping tool



mg. m, wm. A www ETAL www? CABLE STRIPPING TOOL Filed May 21, 1945 HTTONEY Patented Aug. 30, 1949 CABLE STRIPPING TOOL Alan Baldwin, Newark,and William J. Steeds,

Bloomfield, N. J., assignors to Federal Telephone and Radio Corporation,New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application May 21, 1945,Serial No. 594,864

This invention relates to a cable stripping tool, particularly to abraid cutting tool, and has for an object to provide a tool forstripping braid from an insulated cable.

Another object of the invention is to provide a self-opening hand toolfor readily separating braid from the insulation of a cable and forsevering the separated braid.

A further object of the invention is to provide a portable tool whichwill strip `only the braid from the cable without injuring theinsulation or conductor.

With the above objects in view, one embodiment of the inventiondiscloses a, braid stripping tool having a pair of spring-separatedhandles to which are operatively connected a reciprocating hollowplunger with a bevelled cutting face and a cooperating stationarycutting die, the plunger in its forward movement being adapted first toseparate the braid from the insulating material, next to receive thebraidless insulated conductor within its bore, and nally to shear offthe separated braid upon contact with the cutting edge of the die.

A more complete understanding will be obtained from the followingdescription of a preferred embodiment of this invention taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the tool in its retracted or normallyopen position,

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2--2 of Fig. l, illustratingseparation of the braid from the insulated donductor,

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of the plunger-die portion of the tool in theoperative or closed position illustrating severance of the braid fromthe cable.

Referring now to the drawing, there is shown a braid stripping tool Ihaving a pair of handles il, I2 of such size and shape as to be readilyencompassed by a persons hand. Adjacent the forward end of lower handleI2 there is formed a groove I3 into which is secured, as by a press fitoperation, a perforated block or die I4 having a bevelled innerperipheral edge I6 at the front and a counter bore I1 at the back. Intocounterbore i1 is forced an annular bushing I8, preferably of hardeneddrill rod material, having a sharp cutting inner peripheral edge I9. Thecutting face 20 of the die I4 is shown to be of greater width than thatof the handle I2 in order to increase the strength thereof, particu- 1Claim. (Cl. 81-9.5)

larly at its junction with the upper surface of the handle I2, the sideedges 2| above the upper surface of the handle being tapered frontwardlyand the lower side edges 22, downwardly to the width of this handle.

Intermediate the handle I2 is shown a yoke member 23, preferably formedin the shape of a bell crank, having lower bifurcated arms 24embracingly engaging handle I2, being affixed thereto by bolts 26 andpins 21. At the upper portion of the yoke member 23 is shown a pair ofarms 28 between which is pivotally connected by pin 29 the upper handleII of the stripping tool I0. Intermediate the bifurcated arms 24 and 28of member 23 is formed an axial bore 3l having a lining A32, preferablyof hardened drill-rod material, for reciprocatingly supporting therein aplunger 33, also preferably of hardened drill-rod material. Adjacent therearward end of the plunger 33 is shown a reduced section or groove 34with shoulders 35 for abutting engagement by bifurcated arms 36 of aplunger-actuating member 31 iixedly secured by bolts 38 to the upperhandle II.

To provide a predetermined longitudinal movement of plunger 33, aperipheral protuberance or back-stop 39 is formed on the exteriorthereof, as shown, a spring member 4I! being interposed between handesIl, I2 for retracting the tool IIJ to its open position with back-stop39 abutting against yoke member 23. A bevelled edge 4I for cooperationwith edge I9 is formed at the forward or cutting end of the plunger 33with an axial bore 42 of predetermined diameter extending interiorlytherein. The diameter of bore 42 is preferably equal to the outerdiameter of the insulation 43, the bevelled edge 4l of the plunger 33being adapted to slide between this insulation and the braid 44 of acable 46.

In operation, a cable 46 having a braid 44, an insulation 43, andconductor 41 is inserted through the bore of die I4 until it engages thebevelled cutting edge 4I of plunger 33. While holding the cable 46 inthis position, the handles II, l2 are squeezed together, upper handle II pivotally moving actuating member 31 and yoke 36 in an arc whereby theplunger 33 is translatorily moved forward to separate the braid 44 fromthe insulation 43 without injuring the insulation, which with thecontacter 41 is received into the plunger bore 42. Upon further movementthe plunger 33 severs braid 44 from the cable 46 by shearing engagementwith the cutting edge I9 of the die I4. Thereupon, release of thepressure opens handles II, I2 retracts the tool I0 to its open positionunder influence of spring member 40. Additional portions of the braid 44may be removed from the cable 46 by repeating the above process. It is,of course, understood that in the event that an additional length ofbraid 44 is to be removed from the cable 4.6 the first severingoperationfmay be eliminated and the 4handles l I, I2 released to theiropen position, the cable 46 being carried inwardly with the plunger 33.Pressure is then 11e-applied to the handles Il, l2 and the additionallength of braid 44 is separated from the insulation 43 and severed inthe abovedescribed manner.

Although the invention has been described 'by illustrating a specificembodiment thereof, it is clear to anyone skilled in the mechanical artthat many modifications are possible by the xsubstitution of mechanicalequivalents withoutzdeparting from the spirit of the invention and thescope `of the appended claim.

What .is claimed is:

An instrument, for use .in removing a lportion .of a sheath surroundingthe .end of a tubular member, that comprises a rsthandle element; an.anvil mounted Yon .said first handle Jelement .near the distal endthereof, having an annular cutting edge surrounding an openingvextending through said anvil ,substantially parallel to the handle,adapted to receive the tubular member and surrounding sheath; a yokemounted on said .rsthandle Velement intermediate 'the `endszthereof andhavingan opening formed therein Vaxially aligned with the opening 'in.the anvil; Ya hollow .plunger slidably mounted in the opening in theyoke, 'having a bevelledcutting edge on the lend facing the anvil, the.opening inisaid hollow plunger being eapable .of .receiving an endportion of said tubular vmember 'but not its. sheath whereby when an.end portion of the .sheathed `by movement of the second handle elementtoward the first handle element causes movement .of 'the fcutting edgeof the plunger into con-- .tacting engagement with the anvil whereby thespreadxportionof the sheath is annularly cut from .the .end of thesheathed tubular member.

ALAN BALDWIN. WILLIAM J. STEEDS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file -ofthis patent:

'UNITED 'STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 16.64.846 Espenlaub Jan. 1,.17901 .751,079 iKraeuter Feb. 2, 1904 A`835,740 Walden Nov. 13, 19061,475,273 Bernard Nov. 27, .1923

15567,'812 Ober et al Dec..29, 1.925

1,743,826 .Martens Jan. .14, .1930

.-1,7.87;358 .Clay Dec. 30, 1930 2,149,935 Chambless Mar. 7, `19392,217,077 Phillips Oct. l8, 11940 .2,376,858 4Barrans .May 29, 19452,386,328 Rollings Oct. 9, .1945

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 460,683 Great 'Britain Feb 2, 1937

